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 Tuesday, November 7
Southern Conference Breakdown
 
 ESPN.com

HOW THEY'LL STACK UP
SOUTH DIVISION
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON: Should get back to NCAA Tournament.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN: Price ready to turn up the tempo.
CHATTANOOGA: Counting on juco transfers to stop the losing.
FURMAN: Returns 70 percent of offense and rebounding.
WOFFORD: Victories will come from long-range shooting success.
THE CITADEL: All five starters return ... they lost 20 games last season.
NORTH DIVISION
UNC GREENSBORO: Open by playing toughest nonconference schedule.
DAVIDSON: Open on Top of the World; careful it's a long way down.
APPALACHIAN ST.: Playing this season in memory of Rufus Leach.
VIRGINIA MILITARY: Nice recruiting class; could win more than 10 games.
E. TENNESSEE STATE: Breakthrough? Or another bust for Bucs?
WESTERN CAROLINA: Overmatched early, often in conference play.

Tuesday, Nov. 7
Buzz Peterson had his moment last season when Appalachian State finally dethroned College of Charleston. But Houston Fancher has to rebuild the Mountaineers before he can challenge the Cougars.

John Kresse still has the team to beat, even if he doesn't have James Griffin for the first three games of the season because of a suspension. Jody Lumpkin, who started his career at Rice, has matured into a legit player of the year candidate and possible pro.

The Cougars don't have the nonconference marquee games to get in as an at-large unless they put together a monster record.

ESPN.com All-Southern
  • Guard: Ian Chadwick
    Senior, 6-4, Wofford
  • Guard: Jeff Bolton
    Junior, 6-3, College of Charleston
  • Forward: Karim Souchu
    Sophomore, 6-7, Furman
  • Forward: Eric Mann
    Sophomore, 6-9, VMI
  • Center: Jody Lumpkin
    Senior, 6-8, College of Charleston

    Player of Year ...
    Jody Lumpkin, C, College of Charleston
    Not only can the 6-foot-8 senior dominate under the boards but also on his boards. Lumpkin averaged 15.1 points and nine rebounds a game last season, while also earning his master's degree. As a result, he was a GTE Academic All-American with a 3.91 GPA and led the conference with 13 double-doubles.

    Introducing ...
    Neil Ashby, F, Chattanooga
    After transferring in from Alabama, the 6-8 junior sat out last season, but he should start turning heads in the Southern Conference with his leaping ability. He averaged only 2.2 points for the Tide -- we predict a little more for the Mocs.

    Best backcourt ...
    Wofford: Ian Chadwick and Jon Pryor. The 6-4 Chadwick averaged 16.8 points and 3.3 rebounds and enters his senior year as a candidate for Southern Player of the Year. The two-time All SoCon selection has 226 career 3-pointers and should shatter the conference record (245) set by Western Carolina's Anquell McCollum in 1992-96. Pryor runs the offense and protects the ball, averaging better than two assists to every turnover. Mike Lenzly, Lee Nixon and Colon Largent give the Terriers plenty of depth in the backcourt.

    Best frontcourt ...
    College of Charleston: Jody Lumpkin, Leghton Bowie and Mike Benton. Lumpkin and Bowie are the keys to this frontline. Lumpkin might be the best player in the conference, while Bowie was an all-rookie selection last season after averaging 12 points and 6.6 rebounds as a freshman. The other forward spot is Benton's for now, but Rudy Rothseiden and Pat Davis also will see time in this spot.

    Team on way up ...
    UNC Greensboro: The Spartans should win the North Division crown with a strong core of Nathan Johnson, James Maye and Courtney Eldridge.

    Team on way down ...
    Appalachian State: After reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1979, the Mountaineers are going through a tough time both on and off the court. Last season's leading scorer Rufus Leach drowned while boating this summer and the tragic loss will be tough to overcome emotionally.

    Tournament tough ...
    NCAA: College of Charleston.
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